Director of Data Science.
Birmingham.
$186,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$143,000 to $242,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A Director of Data Science in Birmingham earns a median of $186,000 in 2026. That is 13% below the national average. The range runs from $143,000 to $242,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $167,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$121,000
to $149,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$158,000
to $195,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$205,000
to $242,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$233,000
to $288,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $121,000 to the total package.
Base
$186,000
Equity
$65,000
Bonus
$41,000
Signing
$15,000
Estimated total: $307,000
How Birmingham compares
Birmingham, AL
$186,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$215,000
Birmingham is $29,000 below
Director of Data Science salary by city
Salary by role in Birmingham
What you should know
Here is what the Director of Data Science market actually looks like in Birmingham. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Team composition, model deployment complexity, and business impact attribution are the strongest pay factors. Directors overseeing ML engineers alongside data scientists earn more than those managing analytics-only teams. Industry premiums are highest in fintech, adtech, and healthcare AI where model accuracy directly drives revenue.
Senior data scientists earn $140,000 to $175,000. Data science managers advance to $165,000 to $210,000. Directors start at $195,000 to $250,000. Senior directors overseeing multiple teams earn $245,000 to $300,000. VP of data science or CDO is the next step at $260,000 to $380,000. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity grants at tech companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. Cash bonuses of 15 to 25% of base tied to model performance metrics and business impact are typical. Signing bonuses of $30,000 to $75,000 are common due to talent scarcity. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $186,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Director of Data Sciences in Birmingham runs from $143,000 to $242,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Director of AI Strategy in Birmingham earns $187,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is Chief AI Officer at $263,000
Common questions.
Director of Data Science salary in other cities
Other salaries in Birmingham
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.